FORMER Boro boss Gordon Strachan is poised to take over as Scotland manager.

Strachan, 55, left Boro by mutual consent in October 2010 after a nightmare year in charge at the Riverside. Before that though, he had won the Scottish title three years running with Celtic and that made him the clear choice for the Hampden hotseat.

Now Strachan, who also had spells in charge of Coventry and Southampton, is fine-tuning the details on his contract with the Scottish Football Association and is set to be confirmed as the new boss.

Strachan had initial talks over replacing Craig Levein before Christmas with the details of salary and contract length being resolved last week.

Strachan will take charge of the remainder of Scotland's failed 2014 World Cup qualification campaign - they are bottom of Group A with two points from four matches - with a view to rebuilding before the 2016 European Championship qualifiers begin.

Scotland have not appeared at a major finals since 1998.

“It’s quite simple really - it would be an honour to be asked to be the manager of your own national side; it’s terrific,” he said last month.

Strachan, pictured, has worked as a Champions League pundit on ITV since leaving Boro. His 12-month spell at the Riverside was a costly cul-de-sac for Boro.

He succeeded Gareth Southgate with the team a point outside the promotion places and needing to be toughened up and left with Boro in their lowest position for two decades and fighting relegation despite a hefty £10m summer spending spree.

Of 46 games in charge, he won just 13 and lost the support of the crowd and, according to chairman, Steve Gibson, was so bruised by the experience he walked away without compensation, despite having two years left on his contract.